Armenia builds national cybersecurity capabilities through joint exercise with Estonia

The exercise focused on developing participants’ hands-on cybersecurity skills through realistic simulation of cyberattacks, while supporting the Information Systems Agency of Armenia (ISAA) efforts to advance national cybersecurity capabilities.

The exercise was funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and organised by the e-Governance Academy (eGA), the Information Systems Agency of Armenia (ISAA) and CybExer Technologies. Supporting Armenia's cybersecurity is an important part of Estonian-Armenian cooperation, as cybersecurity is critical to national sovereignty. The event was also attended by high-level representatives of the Government of Armenia - the Deputy Minister at High-Tech Industry Ministry, Ruben Simonyan; Deputy Governor at the Central Bank of Armenia, Armen Nurbekyan, Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ani Babayan, and Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vahan Kostanyan.

"States rely on digital data and being able to defend their systems is crucial for a country's ability to exist independently. As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, the need for strong preparation and close cooperation continues to grow. Estonia stands ready to share its experience and expertise in support of cybersecurity development in Armenia, as demonstrated by this exercise," said Andres Ääremaa, ESTDEV’s programme manager for Cybersecurity and e-Governance. 

The exercise focused on strengthening the practical cyber capabilities of government institutions and critical service providers, including the telecommunications and banking sectors. It aimed to enhance participants’ ability to protect both IT and operational technology (OT) systems, while improving inter-agency coordination during cyber incidents. 

“Cyber exercises remain one of the most effective ways to build operational readiness and ensure that essential services can respond to evolving cyber threats,” said Mari Tomingas-Sibul, the acting head of eGA’s Cybersecurity Competence Centre. 

Participants engaged in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment, practising threat hunting, communication, and teamwork under pressure. Through live simulations, they improved coordination and incident response, and gained deeper insight into effective collaboration during crisis-situations.

“Cyber exercises show how institutions and systems perform together under pressure. They strengthen coordination, improve technical readiness, and build the trust required for a fast and executive response. Our cooperation with Estonian partners adds significant value, bringing practical experience and supporting the development of a more resilient and secure digital environment. For ISAA, this is part of a broader effort to ensure a well-coordinated and sustainable digital ecosystem in Armenia,” said Nerses Yeritsyan, Director of the Information Systems Agency of Armenia. 

Armenia has clearly expressed its desire to move closer to the European Union politically and economically. Estonia has supported Armenia since 2001, and starting in 2024, Armenia will once again be among Estonia’s priority countries for development cooperation. Over the course of more than 20 years, Estonia has implemented over 70 development cooperation projects in Armenia. 

Estonia’s priority areas for development cooperation in Armenia are education, democracy and the rule of law, and support for business development, export and innovation.